Autographic camera.



P. C. OSTEEN.

AUTOGRAPHIC CAMERA. APPLICATION FILED FEB.5,1915.

1,251,915. Patented Jan. 1,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

m mflmlllllllmm 1:; l4 43 P. C. OSTEEN AUTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 5. 1915.

1,251,915, Patented Jan. 1,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- PERCY C. OSTEEN, OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AUTOGRAPI-IIG CAMERA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed February 5, 1915. Serial 1%. 6,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY G. Os'rnmv, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Anderson, in the county of Anderson and State ofSouth Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutographic Cameras; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a moderntype known as the autographic camera, in which means is provided wherebya permanent record in writing may be made on each negative at the timethe exposure is made.

The invention has for its object to provide a camera and a roll filmtherefor having a plurality of spaced transversely elongated openings inthe backing strip adapted to be successively moved into registrationwith an opening formed in the camera back and a writing sheet adjustablysecured to the camera and movable into the opening.

Another object is the provision of an autographic camera having anopening in the back thereof, a hinged door or closure for the opening,and a writing sheet slidably secured to the camera back and movableunder the free edge of the door, when the latter is closed, into theopening.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will behereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying draw ing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved autographiccamera.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmental rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating theslide adjusted so as to expose a portion of the writing sheet adjacentthe hinged closure or door.

Fig. 5 represents a sectional View similar to Figs. 3 and 4:,illustrating the hinged door or closure in open position.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmental plan view of the film backing sheet orstrip.

Fig. 7 represents a fragmental top plan view of the writing sheetremoved.

Fig. 8 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

. Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral10 indicates generally the body or box of a film camera of ordinaryconstruction, in the opposite ends of which are arranged film spoolsupports (not shown). The back 11 of the body is formed with anelongated opening 12 adapted to be closed by a spring actuatedlight-proof closure 13, hingedly secured at lt to the camera back 11 andadapted to be reliably secured in closed position by an angular slidablestop 15 mounted in a suitable holder 16. A. pair of spaced guides 17 aresecured in spaced relation adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe camera back 11 and re ceive a slidable plate 18 movable against thelongitudinal edge of the light-proof closure 13. The free longitudinaledge 19 of the closure 13 is beveled and adapted to snugly engage thecorrespondingly shaped edge or wall 20 of the opening 12. v

A writing sheet designated generally by the numeral 21 is positionedagainst the camera back 11, exteriorly of the latter, and is slidablyengaged between the guides 17 under the slidable plate 18. The writingsheet 21 comprises a body 22 formed of a sheet of flexible or elastictransparent material, such as celluloid and a coating 23 of opaquematerial applied to the writing surface of the body sheet 22. The widthof the writing sheet 21 corresponds approximately to the length of theopening 12 and is adapted to be inserted into the opening between thebeveled edges 19 and 20 of the door 13 and opening 12, respectively. Thephotographic film 2a is wound, as usual, upon the film spools (notshown) and is movable behind the exposure opening in the camera body 10.A backing sheet 25 is wound upon the spools with the film 24 and isinterposed between the film and the back 11 of the camera. The backing25 is formed of a suitable opaque material, such as black paper, and isformed at spaced intervals with transversely elongated openings 26adapted to be brought into registration with the opening 12 in thecamera back and as the film is rolled or wound upon the receiving spoolto bring the sections of the film successively behind the exposureopening in the camera for exposure.

In use, the film is positioned within the camera in the usual manner anda portion of the backing :25 is wound upon the receiving spool. untilthe first section of the film 24,-,

which latter is secured at its ends to the back 25, is brought intoposition behind the exposure opening. With the film in this position thefirst or number 1 opening 26 is in registration with the opening 12 inthe camera back, and it will be understood that the opening 12 isclosed, to prevent entrance of light into the camera by the stop 15. Theexposure is made in the usual manner, and subsequently the plate 18 isslid from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that illus trated inFig. 4, thus leaving a portion of the writing strip 21 between the plate18 and the door 13 exposed. A pencil 27 or other sharp pointedinstrument is engaged upon the opaque coating 13 and the desirednotation 28 is made on the portion thereof exposed between the plate 18and the door 18. The movement of the pencil or sharp pointed instrumentover the relatively soft opaque coating 23 forms a groove in the latterfollowing the path of the point of the instrument over the coating, andwhen the writin sheet is subsequently moved longitudina ly between thedoor 13 and the beveled edge or wall 20 of the opening 12 into thelatter, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the door 13 is opened and light isadmitted through the marking or writing 28 causing a photographicimpression of the writing to be made directly upon the film 24intermediate the exposed sections thereof. As light is admitted directlyto the film the exposure need be made for merely the fractional part ofa second, thus a swift opening and closing of the door suflices to makethe desired photographic impression upon the film of the writing 28 madeupon the writing sheet.

What I claim is:

1. In an autographic camera, a body hav ing an opening and in the backthereof, a closure for said opening, and a plate slidably secured tosaid body and arranged laterally of said. opening, a pair of guidessecured to the camera back, and a writing sheet including a transparentbody and an opaque coating thereon slidably engaged between said guidesand movable under said closure and into said opening.

2. In an autographic camera, a body having an opening in the backthereof, a closure for said opening, a pair of guides secured to saidback, a transparent writing sheet slidably mounted in said guide, aremovable opaque coating on the writing surface of said writing sheet,said writing sheet being movable under said closure and into saidopening, and a plate slidably mounted in said guides and movable againstsaid closure, and a plate slidably secured to said body and arrangedlaterally of said opening.

3. In an autographic camera, a body having an opening in the backthereof, a film movably disposed in said body, a backing stripinterposed between said film and the back of said camera and having aplurality of transverse openings adapted to be successively moved intoregistration with the opening in the camera back, a closure for saidopening, a writing sheet slidably secured to the exterior surface of thecamera back and including a transparent body sheet, and an opaquecoating on the writing surface thereof, said writing sheet being movableunder said closure and into the opening in said camera back.

4-. In an autographic camera, a body having an opening in the backthereof, a film movably disposed in said body, a backing stripinterposed between said film and the back of said body and having aplurality of transverse openings adapted to be successively moved intoregistration with the opening in the camera back, a closure for saidopening, a plate slidably secured to said body and movable against saidclosure, a writing sheet slidably secured to the exterior surface of thecamera back and including a transparent body sheet, and an opaquecoating on the writing surface there'- of, said writing sheet beingmovable under said closure and plate and into the opening in the cameraback.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERCY O. OSTEEN. Witnesses IN. N WEBB, C. A. BASKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Paten Washington, D. G.

